Globalization requires effective international and cross-cultural collaboration. When project teams from Western cultures first come into contact with colleagues from the Indian IT and BPO industry, prejudices against the new and unknown are typically amplified. This book is a start on the journey of cultural appreciation for managers, project leaders, and offshore coordinators working together with Indians. It is also a resource for business managers and company strategists seeking to understand the softer aspects behind the headlines that the Indian IT and BPO industry so frequently creates. Being both academically well researched and an account of the author’s many years of personal experience in India, the book opens with a description of cultural dimensions that help to break down culturally driven matters. It provides background information about India as a country and a social system. Examining the development and current status of India’s IT and BPO industry, it moves on to describe the dynamics of its workforce. The book then provides practical information on how to communicate, negotiate, and interact with Indian colleagues, and intelligently utilize expatriates. It closes by formulating recommendations for a more effective collaboration.
Author(s): Wolfgang Messner
Edition: 1
Year: 2008
Language: English
Pages: 191
Table of Contents......Page 10
Foreword from Capgemini......Page 5
Foreword from SIETAR India......Page 6
Preface......Page 7
Acknowledgements......Page 9
1.1 Definition of Culture......Page 13
1.2 Research on Intercultural Dimensions......Page 14
1.2.1 Power Distance......Page 17
1.2.2 Individualism and Collectivism......Page 21
1.2.3 Assertiveness......Page 24
1.2.4 Uncertainty Avoidance......Page 27
1.2.5 Future Orientation......Page 29
1.2.6 Performance Orientation......Page 31
1.2.7 Gender Egalitarianism......Page 32
1.2.8 Humane Orientation......Page 34
1.4 Soft Skills Key to Success......Page 37
1.6 Learning Intercultural Communication......Page 39
2.1 Geography......Page 41
2.2 Brief History......Page 42
2.2.1 Ancient Times......Page 43
2.2.2 Modern History......Page 44
2.2.3 Arrival of the Europeans......Page 47
2.2.4 British Colonialism......Page 49
2.2.5 Post-Independence......Page 51
2.2.6 Age of Reforms......Page 54
2.2.7 Recent Events......Page 56
2.3 Government and Political Parties......Page 58
2.4 Economic Situation......Page 60
3.1 Caste System......Page 63
3.2 Role of the Family......Page 66
3.3 Educational System......Page 68
3.4 Key Indian Beliefs, Values, and Avoidances......Page 72
4.1.1 Early Steps Towards Becoming a Computer Economy......Page 74
4.1.3 Software Technology Park Scheme......Page 75
4.1.4 Software Process Improvement......Page 76
4.1.5 The Boom Time......Page 77
4.1.6 Critical years Ahead?......Page 11
4.2 The 'Silicon Valleys' of India......Page 83
4.3 Operating Models......Page 85
4.3.1 Captive Offshore Centers......Page 86
4.3.2 Firms of Indian Origin......Page 87
4.3.3 Multi-national Companies......Page 88
4.4 The Phenomenon of Overheating......Page 89
4.5.1 Infrastructure......Page 93
4.5.2 Currency Risk......Page 95
4.5.3 War, Terror, and Violence......Page 96
4.5.4 Criminalization of Politics, Businesses, and Public Life......Page 99
4.5.5 (In-)security of Data......Page 102
4.6 Business Continuity Management......Page 103
5.1.1 Recruitment......Page 106
5.1.3 Performance Appraisals......Page 108
5.1.5 Employee Turnover and Retention Management......Page 109
5.2 Hierarchy......Page 113
5.3 Leadership and Management......Page 115
5.4 Typology of Employees......Page 122
6.1 Indian Languages and Indian English......Page 126
6.2 Culture Shock India......Page 129
6.3 First Business Contacts......Page 131
6.4 Meetings and Negotiations......Page 133
6.5.1 Communication from India......Page 137
6.5.3 Positive Feedback......Page 141
6.5.4 Negative Feedback......Page 143
6.6 Contracts and Agreements......Page 146
6.8 Business and Social Etiquette......Page 147
7.1 Managing from a Distance......Page 150
7.2 Setting up Offshore Projects......Page 151
7.3 Selecting the Team......Page 154
7.4 Monitoring Progress......Page 156
7.5 Transition from IT Development to Maintenance......Page 158
8.1 Expatriate Requirements......Page 159
8.2.1 Costs of Expatriate Assignments......Page 160
8.2.2 Expatriate Lifestyle in India......Page 161
8.2.4 Failure Rate of Expatriate Assignments......Page 162
8.2.5 Expatriate Strategy for Westerners......Page 163
8.3 Indian Expatriates in the West......Page 166
8.3.1 Onsite Assignments of an Indian......Page 167
8.3.3 Onsite Assignment Strategy for Indians......Page 168
9. Recommendations for Effective Collaboration......Page 171
List of Abbreviations......Page 172
References......Page 174
About the Author......Page 182
F......Page 183
M......Page 184
U......Page 185
W......Page 186
